Battery Park

Castle Clinton was originally a military site but has been converted over the years to be a theater, an immigration center, an aquarium and now, a ticket station for the Statue Cruise.

This fort and three others in the region were built between 1808 and 1811 to counter a potential British invasion. This is not the first fortification in the area. Fort George (or Fort Amsterdam) was also located in this strategic part of the city but was completely razed in 1788. Castle Clinton, originally named Southwest Battery, was renamed in 1815 for the politician, mayor and future governor Dewitt Clinton. It’s hard to believe that this structure was on an artificial island, but the embankment has ensured that the fort is now accessible without spanning a bridge. Castle Clinton did not need to use its force and its military activities ceased in 1822.

In 1824, the place was transformed into the city’s entertainment center (Castle Garden) with, among other things, the celebrations of the victorious return of Marquis Lafayette from France, one of the heroes of the War of Independence, as well as the presentation of the invention of the telegraph by Samuel Morse, to name a few.

The square grew in importance in the community and a roof was added to the building in 1840. This addition allowed a greater variety of events and attracted international artists including Jenny Lind, a popular opera performer.

In 1855, due to its strategic position, the site changed its specialty again and became the immigration center where more than 7.5 million people arrived in the United States to settle. The site remained open until Ellis Island welcomed them in 1890.

This is not the end of the fort. The center was renovated and became a popular aquarium from 1896 to 1941 until it moved to Coney Island. We then questioned the future of the construction. Citizens supported the preservation of the site which was saved from demolition and became, in 1946, a national monument and was restored to its original form in the 1970s.

It’s in Battery Park that you’ll find the restored ring fort that is now the ticket office for tours to the Statue of Liberty.

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